Thursday, June 02, 2016

Goin' South

This bike on that truck.
Today I'm heading South with Tony, who is competing in the Dirty Kanza 200 this year. I am not riding in the Dirty Kanza 200. I am going along as a traveling companion, to see old friends, pass out a few stickers, and then go do my own ride on Saturday while all the DK200 mayhem is going on.

I'll be taking along the Fargo Gen I as a test sled for a possible rig for Odin's Revenge. My shoulder that I injured in a fall on ice last Winter is giving me fits sometimes on my "regular" drop bar bikes. I have found that by slightly turning my hands inward or outward, the pain is relieved. So, maybe a Luxy Bar with its extreme sweep may be the answer. Maybe it won't be, but there is only one way to find out, right?

I used this same bike on the Geezer Ride and I do not recall being in serious agony with the shoulder, so it may be that I have to go with a handle bar like this for Odin's. If it doesn't pan out, I am going to have to swap to one of my flat bar bikes, I guess.

Anyway, I was poking around on the KDOT site and found the county maps I need to plot out my own course. Since this year's DK is totally South of Emporia, I am going to venture Northward. I figure on at least a metric century so I can add it to my Cup-O-Dirt Challenge totals.

Okay, I am out of town till Sunday. If you see me in Emporia, hit me up for a RidingGravel.com sticker and say hello. Otherwise, I'm outta here. I have a couple of posts in the can for tomorrow and Saturday, so take care and I'll see y'all Monday, hopefully, with a full accounting of the trip.

3 comments:

Exhausted_Auk said...

I have the impression that the bigger tires of a 29er are a good choice for Odin's Revenge in any case, because of the sandy conditions.

Guitar Ted said...

@Exhausted_Auk: Bigger diameter and/or widr tires. I used the 27.5+ wheels last year and they were great. The trick is to balance weight and flotation. Too heavy a wheel and you will pay the price out there. Those hills are steep and longer than we have around here.

blooddoc23 said...

I would like to have a couple of those stickers. Ill hit you up in Emporia.